Facing the Fae [BOOK TWO]

Chapter 5

Rebecca was frazzled as she sat back down on the throne-like chair. But she was resigned and determined. To try and do this. To not pass out again.

She felt Ferro's presence to her left, as he settled behind her again. The previous whispers of the arena turned to frigid silence as they noticed Rebecca's presence. She wasn't ashamed to admit that it made her skin scrawl, but she didn't let it get the better of her.

She was Queen. And right now, it meant watching people fighting for the honour to defend her. So Rebecca had to deal with it. No matter how uncomfortable it made her, she had to sit and pretend she was okay with it all.

As the announcer spoke in Faelk, Rebecca looked around. She felt Adam's presence but he hadn't made himself known yet. Not even his voice is her head. She had enough to worry about though, so she didn't dwell on it.

"The competitors are coming back out again," Ferro said, voice deep.

"All of them?" Rebecca whispered, hoping that wasn't the case. A hundred Fae lined up? She wasn't sure she'd be able to handle that. Maybe if she had Ferro's sword, she'd be able to. Then again, she didn't even know how to hold it.

She got her answer as she saw them all walk out. It started out as two. Then more followed. The little group turned into a large group. Rebecca lost track of them all as the crowded towards the front of the sand area.

Then, in a coordinated dance they fell to one knee. Rebecca didn't know how they managed to do it in the cramped space, but somehow they did.

"How long will they do that for?" she asked aloud, voice surprisingly strong.

"Until you officially start the round," Ferro said back.

Rebecca was anxious for that to happen—so this could be over faster. So she stood, hoping it would start it somehow.

It turned out she was right. The second she stood, the announcer's voice boomed out. Then all the competitors stood and filed out the exit of the arena. It took no more than a few minutes, despite the mass amount of Fae.

When they were gone, Rebecca frowned. "What now?"

"The first two competitors will come out," Ferro said.

The first few fights were uneventful. They were strategic and vicious—though no blood was spilled.

It wasn't until the final fight that it turned gruesome.

Rebecca didn't know the logistics of it, but somehow 125 Fae had diminished to 101. She'd seen so many fights she'd lost count. Maybe the losers versed the loser—then whoever lost out of that were cut. Maybe some were automatically put through.

However it worked, they were at the last fight. And night had fallen, the sky so dark Rebecca wouldn't have seen a thing if not for the illuminated lights. She was so exhausted she could barely sit upright—so she had no idea how the competitors were still going.

Except as she watched the fight she was suddenly wide awake.

The competitors that were squaring off were equally matched. Same height. Same weight. There wasn't a clear age different visible between them.

Rebecca had been making bets on who'd win, during the last few fights. But this one—this one she couldn't pick. For whatever reason, Rebecca was hoping the blonde one won—since he looked no older than her. He was far from tiny though—as muscular as Mikael had been, if not more. But he looked innocent, somehow.